PBA D-League: Hapee shoots for sweep

MANILA, Philippines—Hoping to celebrate its comeback with a championship, Hapee goes for a sweep of Cagayan Valley in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup Finals Thursday.

“We have to contain, sustain and do the little things we were able to do in Game 1,” said Hapee coach Ronnie Magsanoc yesterday. “We have to defend them well.”

Game 2 of the best-of-three series is set at 3 p.m. at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

Back in amateur basketball after a five-year hiatus, the Fresh Fighters moved within a win of another crown after taking Game 1 last Monday, 82-74, with big men Ola Adeogun and Troy Rosario sparking the decisive win.

The Fresh Fighters—who won four titles in the defunct Philippine Basketball League (PBL)—also clamped down on Cagayan’s usually reliable shooters led by Don Trollano and Fil-Am guards Abel Galliguez and Alli Austria.

“If just half of those [shots] fell in, it would’ve been a completely different game,” said Cagayan’s Fil-Tongan center Moala Tautuaa, who led the fight for the Rising Suns as their backcourt struggled in the Finals opener.

Galliguez, whose clutch shooting had bailed out the Rising Suns in several games, missed all of his six attempts from the field and wound up with just three points.

Austria also misfired his lone attempt, while Trollano went 0-of-5 from beyond the arc.

“It’s important for us to turn it into a defense-oriented series,” said Magsanoc. “[Cagayan] is a high-octane offensive team that averaged 100 points in the last three games. So hopefully, we can slow them down again.”

San Beda’s Adeogun (21 points and 15 rebounds) and National University’s Rosario (16 points)—who both starred in their schools’ title run in the last collegiate season—are again expected to shine for the Fresh Fighters, who led by as many as 20 points.

Newly crowned MVP Ray Parks is also expected to deliver along with Hapee guards Garvo Lanete, Baser Amer and Earl Scottie Thompson.